It really depends on if the kid in question is supervising younger kids. Anyone who is trying to ride herd on smaller kids gets offered some candy, even adults, because they deserve it. It also depends on whether there’s a costume involved, if the kid isn’t supervising at least one smaller kid. Anyone who shows up at my door with a pillowcase and no costume doesn’t get candy.
I told my own kids they could go trick-or-treating for themselves (in costume and always politely) through the age of 12. After that, they had to borrow younger children to take around in order to do any trick-or-treating themselves (also in costume, politely). It’s incredibly easy for young teens to borrow children on Halloween if they’ve gotten to know the families in the neighborhood. Very few parents really want to take their own eight-year-olds around themselves.
If you’re a teenager, you had better have a nice costume. Otherwise, you’re just a bum begging on my door step.
Last year a whole group of teenagers knocked on my door. No costumes, no masks, just plastic grocery store bags. Which isn’t that big of a deal, since it’s not like the neighborhood has a lot of little kids competing against them. But still. They could have at least put some stickers on their faces or something.
I think 12 was my last trick-of-treating year.
You know, I don’t really care. Anyone who shows up at my door and says trick or treat gets candy.
My son gave up trick or treating around 8th grade, I think. His own decidion. He enjoys handing out candy and is working at the Halloween festival at the school this year.
Other:
If they have a reasonable costume of any kind, I’ll let em pass and give candy. Even adults.
I stopped when I was 14. It just didn’t feel…right…doing it anymore after that.
9:00 p.m. That’s when I turn my porch light out.
I think it’s more of a “what grade in school are you in” decision than a “how old are you” one. I stopped after I left elementary school (which, back then, was through 6th grade, so I was 11 my last time); I’m not sure if I would have done it that year had I been in middle school.
My daughter is 12 and thinks that this will be her last year. She’s not sure yet though.
Let them have their fun. Most of them outgrow it in favor of parties and the ones that don’t, I say let them be kids as long as they like.
I went trick or treating one year when I was 30. I wanted to set the world’s record for oldest trick or treater, and the guy whom I eventually married went with me. But we understood that we could only pull this off if our costumes were 100% aces. I spent a month making elaborate papier-mache giant eyeballs for our heads (a la The Residents). The bonus was that these costumes completely obscured our faces, so at least we could pretend to be teenagers.
And guess what? Not a single person gave us a hard time about being too old. Most people laughed and heavily complimented us on our costumes. We got a lot of candy, too.
One drawback, though- because my head was completely obscured, some rowdy teenagers ran by and gave me a smack upside my eyeball-head, presumably mistaking me for another (probably incredibly nerdy) teenager. I was shocked, having temporarily forgotten that teenagers often behave this way towards other teenagers. I pulled off my eyeball head and glowered at them, then was amused at the sudden expression of horror the kids made when he saw how old I was, then absolute terror when Future Husband revealed himself and glowered as well. They apologized immediately and I shrugged it off.
It still was a really fun night and getting harassed by teenagers kind of added to the authenticity of the experience.
I picked 13, but I didn’t see “let the kid decide.” I think I prefer this answer, since my kids are 14 and 15 this year and are talking about going out.
I stopped at 13.
I voted “at puberty” because that’s when we stopped in my family and I had no problem with it, but as others have said, I’d be happy to hand out treats to older kids who have put some effort into it.
My daughter is 14 and because she is a bit overweight, she looks even older. I just can’t bring myself to take trick or treating from her. She loves it so much. It is the sole “holiday” that she has ever celebrated. She lives for it. She always dresses up, of course.
I picked 15, because 16 is a a milestone for most kids. Getting your driver’s license puts you in the next category. Not grown-up yet, but not a carefree child either. A good costume effort is mandatory.
I think at 12-15 or so, it’s about getting together with friends, and being goofy kids one last time before you move on to the next step in life. Individual maturity and desire are obviously the decisive factors for when kids are done with it.
That said, no one in costume is turned away from Casa Ducati. Slutty maids are invited in to party.
Typically the age is 14 in our house (we have had 5 teens grow/growing up with us) after that they know that we would rather have them at home helping pass out candy or planning elaborate spooky Halloween scenes on the walk up to our door. Those are the alternatives we provide to them since I really don’t want them roaming the streets as a pack with their friends, too many opportunities to get into trouble- (or even not be causing problems at all but still be pointed out as potential trouble by other adults). Better to be at home.
I’m gonna say once they’re in middle (intermediate, junior high) school, they should be at an adult-supervised party with other kids their age. Trick-or-treating is for the kids, and when you’re in junior high, you’re not really a kid anymore.
“Kids” driving to the next town is a little over the top.
I put let the kids decide, but agree that it depends a lot on attitude. Street clothes and a stocking cap on a 14 year old will get you one small piece of candy and a stink eye, while I would gladly welcome a group of college students if they had creative costumes.
After elementary school should be the upper limit, definitely before high school. That’s about the line between “being cute” and “begging.”